Gate.



l PATENTBD APR. 2, 1907. G. PATTEN. GATE.v APPLIOATION FILED SEPT. 29. lace.

No. 849,351. v

` PMENTBD APR. 2, 1907. (LPATTBN.

GATE. APPLIoATIoN FILED SEPT. 29` '1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Cha/"Zw Pall Minima-wo VAC.

CHARLES PATTEN, OF FAIRFAX, SOUTH DAKOTA.

GATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

lvatented April 2, 1907.

Application filed September 29,1906. Serial No. 336.719.

T0 all w/w'ln t 771mg/ concern:

Be it known that l, CHARLES PATTEN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Fairfax, in the county ot' Gregory and State of South Dakota, have invented new and useful Improvements in Gates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in gates, and more particularly to gates of the swinging type designed for farm and similar use, the main object of the invention being to provide a gate or' simple construction which is adapted to be economically manufactured in such a manner as to require the use of but a small quantity of wood, thereby rendering the gate of value in those sections where lumber is scarce and posts diilicult to procure and high-priced.

Another object of the invention is to provide a gate oi this character which is light in weight and oHers but little surface for the action of the wind, which is strong, durable, and susceptible oi being hung upon light posts, which can be easily opened and closed by a child, pedestrian, or equestrian, which will'swing open to the full extent in either direction, which will prevent the accumulation of resisting bodies of snow which usually drift and bank against heavy wooden gates, and which when closed will be iirmly and securely fastened in position and will strengthen the fence structure.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in elevation, showing the gate in its closed position. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the latch-bar in released position. Fig. Sis a view similar to Fig. 1, disclosing a modilication in the construction oil the gate. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the latchebar and latch mechanism thereon. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the guide `for the upper end of said bar. Fig. 6 is a similar view ol: the keeper.

Referring to the drawings, 1 and 2 respec tively designate the hinging and latch posts of the gate, and 3 and 4 braces and line wires ofgthe tence structure secured thereto.

The frame of the gate comprises a hingingstile 5, a top bar 6, secured at one end thereto, and an inclined brace or strut bar 7, se-

cured at its lower end to the lower end of the stile 5 and at its upper end to the top bar at a point about midway of theglength of the latter. Strap-hinges S are secured to the frame in such a manner as to strengthen and reinforce the stile and bars at their points of conneetion and engage the post l to mount the gate ior swinging movement thereon. A pin or other suitable support 9 may be 'xed to the hinging-post and extend under one of the hinges 8 to hold the gate-frame `from downward movement on said post.

At the swinging end of the gate is a latch stile or bar 10, which is pivotally connected at its lower end to a bracket 11, arranged upon the free end olI a supporting-bar 12, pivotally connected at its inner end, as by a link 13, to the brace or strut 7, which latter is provided with a stop or abutment 14 to stay and limit the upward-swinging movement of said bar.

The latch bar 10 projects upwardly through a guide loop or strap 15, secured to the 'free end of the bar l, and is free to slide in said guide in a direction longitudinally of the gate. The gate structure is completed by one or more body-strands 16 of barbed or other wire suitably connected at their ends with the hinging stile and latch-bar.

The lower end of the latch-bar is adapted to iit down into a keeper arranged at the lower end of the latch-post 2, said keeper preferably comprising a looped metallic strap 17, fastened at the iree ends olE its arms to the latch-post and provided at its outer or closed end with an anchor member 1S, adapted to be embedded in the ground. An operating handle or lever 19 is hinged or pivoted at one end, as indicated at 20, to the bar 10 and is operatively connected with a latch member 21, consisting ol a metallic loop or bail adapted to embrace the upper end ol the post 2 and pivoted at the iree end olt its arms, as indicated at 22, to the lever 19. The pivot 22 is arranged below and in rear ol the lever-fulcrum 20, so that when the lever is turned down to a substantially horizontal position, as shown in Fig. l, the latch-loop will be drawn upon to bind against the post 2, and thereby lock the bar 1() from upward movement, while an upward movement oi the lever to release position will slacken the latclnloop and permit it to be swung out ol" engagement with the post.

The supporting-bar 12 is connected at its free end with the lirec end of the top bar G by a spring 23%, which operates to stay and support said bar and draw the same upwardly to elevate and .retract the latch-bar when the latch member 2l is released from engagement with the latch-post. A barbed guard-wire 2l is connected at oneend with the upper' IOO ITO

end of the stile 5 and engages a short post 25, projecting upwardly from the bar 6, and projects beyond the same and is secured at its opposite end to said bar in rear of the lever 19. This wire acts as a truss to stay the bar 6, as well as a guard to prevent horses and cattle from pressing against and bearing down upon the top of the gate.

By reference to Fig. 1 it will be seen thatwhen the gate is closed and locked the lower end of the bar 10 is inserted in the keeper 17, while the upper end thereof is fastened to the post 2 by the latch-loop 15, whereby said latch-bar is held in locking position with the spring 23 expanded. "W hen the free end of the lever is thrown upward, the pivot 22 will shift upwardly and forwardly, thereby throwing the latch-,loop out of engagement with the post and allowing the spring 23 to lift the bar 12 and latch-bar 10, whereby the latter will be moved upwardly out of engagement with the keeper 17 and may swing back in the guide 15, allowing the gate to be swung open in either direction. Vv' hen the gate is again closed, the bar 10 may be forced downward into engagement with the keeper and the latch-loop again engaged with the post in an obvious manner to lock the gate.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description that the invention provides a gate which is light in weight, strong and durable in construction, and obviates the necessity of employing large posts or lengthy boards, thus producing a gate which may be economic ally manufactured in sections where lumber is scarce. Furthermore, the open structure of the gate avoids objectionable strain thereon from wind-pressure and prevents the accumulation of banks of drifted snow which would prevent the gate from having free movement, while the latch mechanism is of such a character as to be readily manipulated by a child, pedestrian, or equestrian.

ln the modification ,disclosed in i? ig. 3 the structure is the same in all material respects as that shown in Figs. 1 and 2 except that the supportiiiig-b ar 12n extends the full length of they bottom of the gate and is connected 1 by a rod 12b with the lower end of the spring, while the lower portion of the gate-body is closed by a netting 12C, of woven wire or other suit-able material, fastened at its ends and lower edge, respectively, to the hingingstile, latch-bar, and supporting-bar. This structure closes the lower portion of the gate without materially adding weight thereto to prevent hogs and other animals trom passing beneath and escaping through the gate. Owing to its iieXible nature, the screen moves freely with the supporting and latch bars, and consequently does not interfere with their operation.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. A swinging gate comprising a frame, a pivoted supporting-bar carried thereby, a latch-bar pivoted to the supporting-bar and in guided connection with the frame, aspring supporting the supporting -bar from the frame and operative to retract the latch-bar, and means for securing the latch-bar in latching position against the action of said spring.`

2. A swinging gate comprising a frame, a latch-bar at the free end thereof in guided connection at its upper end with said frame, a supporting-bar pivoted at one end to the frame and at its opposite end to the lower end of the latch-bar, a retracting-spring connecting said supporting-bar to the frame, and latch mechanism carried by the upper end of the latch-bar to engage the latch-post and h old said latch-bar against retraction.

3. A swinging gate comprising a frame, a supporting-bar pivoted at one end to the frame, a vertically-movable latch-bar pivoted at its lower' end to said supporting-bar and in guided connection at its upper end with the frame, a retracting-spring connecting the supporting-bar with the frame, a lever pivoted to the latch-bar, and a latch member pivoted to said lever to engage the latch-post and adapted to be held in connection with the post by the action of the lever to secure the bar in latching position against the action of said spring.

4. ln a swinging gate, the combination of hinging and latch posts, a keeper at the lower end of the latch-post, a gate hinged at one end to the hinging-post, a supporting-bar pivoted at one end thereto, a latch-bar at the free end of the gate pivoted adjacent its lower end to said supporting-bar and in guided connection adjacent its upper end with the free end of the gate, locking means at the upper end of the gate to engage the latch-post and hold said latch-bar seated in the keeper, and a retract-ing-spring connecting the supporting-bar with thcframe of the gate and operative to elevate said supporting and latch bars when said locking means is released.

5. A swinging gate comprisinga frame provided at its upper free end with a guide, a .latch-bar movable in said guide, a supporting-bar pivotally connecting the lower end of the latch-b ar with the frame, a contractile spring connectin the free end of the supporting-bar with the frame and adapted to exert its energy to elevate the latch-bar, and means for connecting the upper end of the latch-bar with the gate-post to hold said bar from upward movement.

in testimony whereof I affix my signature j in presence of two witnesses.

CFARLES PATTEN. Vitnesses R. R. HAZEN, A. B. CUTHBERTsoN.

TOO

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